Sunak: Government doing 'everything it can' to help save Alstom jobs in Derby
Prime Minister quizzed during a visit to Derbyshire
Last updated 22nd Mar 2024
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the Government is "doing everything it can" to make sure there is a pipeline of orders for the Alstom train-making plant in Derby after the firm announced it had run out of work, threatening thousands of jobs.
Mr Sunak was asked about the situation at the company as he visited a bus depot in Heanor, in Derbyshire on Friday.
He told reporters: "I know it will be a concerning time for everyone, both in the plant and more generally.
"That's why we've set up a dedicated cross-government taskforce to make sure there is appropriate support in place for all the workers.
"More generally, without obviously being able to comment on commercial conversations, as you'll appreciate, the Government is doing everything it can to support the supply chain and make sure there is a good pipeline of work to do."
The Prime Minister said: "The Government is committed to, and the Transport Secretary has been constructively engaged in, making sure that there is a supply chain of orders that can be worked on.
"And doing absolutely everything we can to support the companies in the supply chain and the workers. We will continue to do that."
Earlier this week, the company said production could stop due to a lack of orders, with 3,000 jobs directly in jeopardy but thousands more at risk in related industries.